TL;DR: YourLifeChoices reported on August 27, 2026, citing A Current Affair, that Michael, a 73-year-old retired psychologist from Queensland, sent about $180,000 to “Melanie”, a nurse who said she was from South Africa and appeared on live video calls. University of Queensland expert Dr Priyanka Singh found deepfake glitches, including a hand with six fingers.
What happened
YourLifeChoices, citing Nine's A Current Affair, reports that Michael, a 73-year-old retired psychologist from Queensland, formed an online relationship with “Melanie”, a softly spoken nurse who said she was from South Africa. The scammers used photos and videos stolen from a real doctor in the United States.
He did the checks, and they passed
Michael was careful at first. He asked for her passport, South African ID and nurse registration. She sent personal photos and joined phone and video calls. Over time, when she asked for money, he sent it, again and again, until he had lost about $180,000. He later confronted the fraudster, ended contact and closed his internet accounts.
How the deepfake worked
University of Queensland cybersecurity expert Dr Priyanka Singh said the scammers used voice cloning and face-swapping software to perform live on video calls, describing it as “an actor wearing a digital mask and the actor is doing all the acting.” Glitches visible in the footage included:
- Earrings that distorted.
- A chair that changed shape and then disappeared.
- A hand with six fingers.
The old advice was “insist on a video call”. That is no longer enough on its own. See our deepfake fraud statistics and deepfake scams explainer.
The numbers
The article says more than $28.6 million in romance scam losses was reported to Scamwatch in 2025, up 21.8%, and Australians aged 65 and over recorded the highest losses of any age group. It adds that Australians correctly tell real from AI-generated images only 42% of the time, and that only one in five have set up a family safe word.
Red flags and checks
- A partner whose documents and video “prove” identity, but who still needs money.
- Small visual glitches on video: jewellery, backgrounds, hands. Ask them to turn sideways or wave a hand in front of the face.
- Requests that grow after trust is built.
- A family safe word helps when a “loved one” calls asking for money.
Report to Scamwatch and call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for support. Deepfakes are built from what is online about real people, so run our free digital footprint check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Michael lose?
About $180,000, according to YourLifeChoices citing A Current Affair.
How was the deepfake spotted?
Dr Priyanka Singh of the University of Queensland found glitches including distorting earrings, a vanishing chair and a hand with six fingers.
Did Michael verify her?
Yes. He asked for a passport, South African ID and nurse registration, and had phone and video calls. The scammers supplied them.
How much did Australians lose to romance scams in 2025?
More than $28.6 million reported to Scamwatch, up 21.8%, according to the article.
Sources
- YourLifeChoices: The nurse he adored had six fingers (Aug 27, 2026), citing A Current Affair
- Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre)